On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked, so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddie was very anxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn't be fair, so he stayed away. "We are to hang up our stockings to-night," said Nan. "And mamma says we must go to bed early, too." "That's to give Santa Claus a chance to get around," said Freddie. "Papa said so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so many boys and girls all over the world to take care of." "Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me," said Flossie. "Maybe he's a twin a hundred times over." At this Freddie roared. "What a funny twin that would be--with each one having the same name!" The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie made up their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work. "Won't say a word when he comes," said the little boy. "Just peek out at him from under the covers." But alas! long before Santa Claus paid his visit that Christmas Eve both Freddie and Flossie were in dreamland, and so were Bert and Nan. It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the moment after she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she had awakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that. "Merry Christmas!" she burst out, all at once, and the cry awoke Freddie. "Merry Christmas!" he repeated. "Merry Christmas, ev'rybody!" he roared out, at the top of his lungs. The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scrambling out to see what the stockings might contain. "Oh, I've got a doll!" shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderful affair of paper. "I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy up and down in a most comical fashion. There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and oranges besides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings. "We must get the presents for the others," whispered Nan to Bert and the smaller twins, and soon all were dressed and bringing the things down from the storeroom. It was a happy party that gathered in the dining room. "Merry Christmas!" said everybody to everybody else, and then Mr. Bobbsey, who was in the sitting room, blew a horn and opened the folding doors. There, on a large side stand, rested a beautiful Christmas tree, loaded down with pretty ornaments and apples and candies, and with many prettily colored candles. Around the bottom of the tree were four heaps of presents, one for each of the children. "Oh, look at the big doll!" screamed Flossie, and caught the present up in her arms and kissed it. "And look at my fireman's suit!" roared Freddie, and then, seeing a trumpet, he took it up and bellowed: "Bring up the engine! Play away lively there!" just like a real fireman.